FILE - In this Wednesday, June 22, 2016 file photo, Brendan Cox, widower of murdered British MP Jo Cox makes a speech during a gathering to celebrate her life, in Trafalgar Square, London. The widower of a slain British legislator stepped down from two charities on Saturday Feb. 18, 2018, set up in her memory after allegations of sexual misconduct in the past were reported. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Husband of slain MP Jo Cox steps down after misconduct claim

By GREGORY KATZ

Feb. 18, 2018

LONDON (AP) — The widower of a slain British lawmaker stepped down from two charities set up in his late wife's memory after a newspaper reported allegations of past sexual misconduct against him.

Brendan Cox said late Saturday he had acted inappropriately and would leave his positions at the Jo Cox Foundation and the More in Common charity. Both were started after a far-right extremist fatally shot and stabbed legislator Jo Cox just before the 2016 Brexit referendum.

Brendan Cox said he wanted to apologize "deeply and unreservedly" for his past behavior while working at another charity.

"I do acknowledge and understand that during my time at Save the Children I made mistakes and behaved in a way that caused some women hurt and offense," Cox said in a statement. He promised to hold himself to "much higher standards" in the future.

The allegations against Cox surfaced last week in Britain's Mail on Sunday. He called the newspaper's reports a "massive exaggeration," but admitted making mistakes. On Sunday, the paper published what it said was a tearful interview with him in which he expressed remorse about his behavior.

Charities in the U.K. have been under increased scrutiny in recent weeks following allegations reported by the Times of London that senior staff from British aid organization Oxfam used prostitutes and downloaded pornography while working in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Jo Cox's family offered support for Brendan Cox, praising him Sunday for taking responsibility for prior misdeeds. Her sister, Kim Leadbeater, said Cox "did the right thing" by admitting inappropriate behavior.

"As a family we will support Brendan as he endeavors to do the right thing by admitting mistakes he may have made in the past, and we respect him for doing so," she said. "We all make mistakes. Brendan is a wonderful father, and I have no doubt about the happiness he brought to Jo."

Cox has campaigned publicly for causes his wife supported since her death.

She was a Labour Party legislator opposed to Brexit — Britain's departure from the European Union — who was killed by a far-right extremist now serving a life sentence for murder.